Kamloops photographer Lucas Cain makes regular visits to the Kamloops International Airport where he captures different models of airplanes as they roar overhead or soar in for landings.

“I’ve always had an interest in planes and it all started when I was a child flying back and forth to see my grandparents in Calgary,” he said.

“I began photographing planes back in late 2020 after taking an interest in the large RJ85 Air Tanker firefighting jets and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

iN PHOTOS: Kamloops man pursues passion for aviation through his lens | iNFOnews.ca — Kamloops photographer Lucas Cain is pictured peering through his lens in this undated photo. SUBMITTED/Lucas Cain

Cain learns about the different airlines, flight routes and aircraft types coming in and out of the airports using an app called Flightradar24, and has honed his skills at aviation photography over the years.

“It definitely pays off to know your camera well and have the proper lens for your environment,” he said.

“Generally, you’re going to want a higher shutter speed for faster jet aircraft and a lower shutter speed for slower, propeller aircraft.”

In recent months, Cain has photographed commercial aircraft including a Pacific Coastal flight at the Kamloops airport, and even a huge military transport plane.

“The Hercules is a militarized cargo and personnel transport aircraft designed in the U.S. in the 1950s,” he said.

“It’s often used for aerial refuelling and humanitarian missions around the world. When the air is thick and damp enough, you can see the props cutting through the air which is really neat.”

On Jan. 24, Cain went with a friend to the airport in Kelowna to see a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touch down. It’s the largest commercial passenger jet to ever land in Kelowna and was there to take upwards of 300 passengers to Hawaii.

“Seeing the Dreamliner touch down in Kelowna was a fantastic thing to see in person,” he said. “It was super cool to be apart of such a significant event for YLW.”

Cain should not have a problem finding interesting aircraft to photograph.

Kamloops International Airport has regular commercial flights with Air Canada, WestJet and Pacific Airlines connecting to cities in BC and Alberta, and offers charter services with planes and helicopters. During the wildfire season, it is a regular base for firefighting aircraft that includes aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Military jets often do training exercises at the site where they launch to do fly-overs every Remembrance Day.